Blood Cannery is the solo project of Idaho Falls’ Cole Foster. He also plays guitar with his partner in crime, Tabitha, in Zap Pack (a fantastic band everyone needs to experience live). Cole has been quite prolific with his output as Blood Cannery, releasing twenty-nine singles, EPs, and albums over the past six years. Blood Cannery’s latest release, VI.XXX is, in his words, “…an exercise in trying to use synth in different genres like: Krautrock, Punk, Techno, Dub and Garage Rock.” Which he pulls off. Masterfully.
VI.XXX may have been an exercise in Blood Cannery’s eyes, but to this listener and his many fans it is just another fine example of Cole’s talent and understanding of how to craft great music. Music that needs to be heard.
Check out the groove-filled, psych track “Uncanny In G Major” (below) and tell me it doesn’t remind you of some of Dwyer’s best work as Damaged Bug.
VI.XXX is out now via Blood Cannery’s Bandcamp page. Go get it.
I’m going to begin by addressing some biases that I have coming into this review:
As a Utah native, I’ll advocate for damn near anyone/anything coming out of the Beehive State (within reason, of course, because fuck Mike Lee),
The sounds that this record reminded me of upon first listen have been some of my favorite tracks, records, and bands in recent times, and
Anything that’s locally released that SOUNDS like it’s not locally released makes me unreasonably excited because Utah genuinely has a really diverse and talented music scene if you’re willing to look, participate and support it. And that’s what it’s all about y’all.
Now, with all of that said, let me tell you why Olympic Deth’s newest record Peace Album is not only one of my most anticipated local releases this year but one that I’m sure will stand among the best of what Utah offers this year, musically speaking.
Peace Album clocks in at 36 minutes across 16 tracks and doesn’t waste any time grabbing listeners attention. The album’s opener “Rehab For Weed” is a vaporwave-esc opener with layered synths, looping electronics and water sounds? It’s a super diverse instrumental that’s engaging for the active listening experience while also being something that could be on in the background. The album transitions expertly from track to track, again making either the active or passive listening experience both rewarding and pleasant as you move through the track list. Standout songs such as lead single “Oklahoma PEACE”. Full of moody, looping electronics and strong guitars from the best slacker-rock or post-punk records you could name, this track is just one of many personal highlights for me that’ve found their way onto playlists of mine. I’ll shout out “Diamond Dozen”, “Ada County” and the album’s closing track “Trout Mask Replica on Accident” as well.
If you took the best parts of Geordie Greep’s solo debut“The New Sound”, King Krule’s 2017 record “The OOZ” and added Geese and some Death Grips – Olympic Deth is the emulsifier that combines all of it together into something new that I encourage damn near anyone to give a listen.
Cincinnati trio Artificial Go are back with 10 new tracks of razor-sharp, jangly post-punk with their latest and greatest LP, Musical Chairs.
Musical Chairs’ songs are masterfully written and arranged, with Angie Willcut’s—mostly—deadpan vocal delivery tying it all together. Check out “Circles,” “Red Convertible,” and the incredible—mostly instrumental—”Sky Burial” (below) for a taste
Musical Chairs is out today via Feel It Records; I highly recommend it. I highly, highly recommend it for fans of bands like Suburban Lawns, Lithics, ESG, and the like. Enjoy.
Cincinnati bruisers Motorbike are back with their sophomore LP, Kick It Over. We’re pleased as punch to premiere the second single from this ferocious garage punk album, “Afraid of Guns.”
At just two minutes, “Afraid of Guns” is a pummeling of razor-sharp guitar, machine-gun snare, driving bass, and snarling vocals. Check it out below and prepare to be blown away.
Kick It Over drops on March 21 via Feel It Records. You can get it from us too. Either way, you should get it. Enjoy.
Slippers is the new project of Los Angeles-based artist and musician Madeline BB. Her debut LP, So You Like Slippers?, is ten charmingly (thanks Sam) snappy, jangly, twee-as-fu** power-pop tunes that only get better with each and every spin. Check out “XTC 1000” and “The Bus” (below) for a sample.
So You Like Slippers? is out now via Lame-O Records. You should get it! I love Slippers the band, I hate slippers the slippers. Enjoy.
Sasha Bolof’s new album, Tabitha, is 10 tracks of fuzzed-out, warm, guitar-driven tunes based on the lives of ten fictional (or are they) characters. It’s like a dream-pop / shoegaze / post-punk / art-rock hodgepodge, but unlike the definition of a hodgepodge, Sasha blends these styles seamlessly, like they all belong together.
Check out “June,” “Jane,” and “Michelle” (below) for a sample of how rad this album is. It’s the perfect album to close the summer with.
Teenage Tom Petties’ set out to “make a 90’s-era power-pop record” on their third album in as many years (and only 9 months after their sophomore release, Hotbox Daydreams, and second self-titled album). I say they achieved that goal (and then some), as much of the guitar work and vocal harmonies throughout the record remind me a lot of 90’s-era Flaming Lips and Fountains of Wayne.
TTP is highly addictive, like Pringles. It’s a head-bobber from start to finish, that’s for sure, featuring eleven melodic, power-pop bangers. Check out “Tuff Top” and “Dumb Enough” (below) for a taste.
Oakland band What’s Important are releasing their latest album, bloodsoaked castle, today. Their PR refers to their sound as “mutant pop,” and their Bandcamp page calls it “castle pop.” I don’t know what either of those genres / sub-genres mean. What I do know is that bloodsoaked castle contains some glitchy, pop punk meets electro pop goodness. Check out “i think about it a lot” (below) for a taste.
Featuring members of Sinks, Neo Neos, Citric Dummies, Color Tv, green/blue, Retainers, Dummy, the Soviettes, IV, and Awesome Snakes, the new single (below) “Car Accident” from Bermuda Squares could only kick ass—and it does!
Their debut LP Outsider hits the streets in May via Feel It Records and judging by the first single it’s going to be a doozy. Enjoy.